Encyclopaedia Judaica

Jews in Muenster

Emigration wave 1933-1939 - deportations to Riga ghetto 1941-1944 - Jewish community after 1945

from: Muenster; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971), vol. 12

presented by Michael Palomino (2008)

NS times

<During the Nazi era the community was reduced from 558 Jews (0.4% of the population) in 1933 to 308 (0.2%) in 1939.

[[This is a reduction of 250 Jews, probably emigrated, and some possibly also in concentration camps. Probably also Jews from the country side were gathered in Muenster, e.g. from Ahaus, Beckum, Borken, Burgsteinfurt, and Coesfeld. And there is the jump of number of Jews in 1935 by Nuremberg laws. So there has been a big emigration wave, not only by 250 Jews, but many more]].

The first deportation from Muenster city and district (to Riga)  took place in December 1941 (403 persons);

[[more Jews were gathered in Muenster from the countryside, and probably also halfs and quarter Jews were persecuted now]].

In 1942 the last large-scale transport went eastward, followed by individual deportations in 1943 and 1944.

After World War II a new congregation was founded, which included besides Muenster the Jews of Ahaus, Beckum, Borken, Burgsteinfurt, Coesfeld. This new community of Muenster numbered 142 members in 1970.> (col. 505)

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